Wetsuit

ABSTRACT

A wetsuit structure ( 10 ) having a zipper ( 15 ) extending from a neck opening ( 14 ) of the wetsuit and down that portion of the wetsuit which, in use, will at least surround the upper part of the torso ( 11 ) of a wearer of the wetsuit. A barrier panel ( 16 ) of stretchable, substantially water proof, material is attached within the interior of the wetsuit adjacent to, and underlying, at least a major portion of the length of the zipper. The wetsuit structure also has a detachable neck or collar ( 17 ) of stretchable, substantially water proof, material adapted, in use, to be pulled over the head of the wearer while stretching in the process, but then relaxing to fit relatively tightly into sealing engagement around the neck of the wearer, and a series of press studs or snaps ( 18, 19 ) to detachably connect the neck or collar to the body of the wetsuit. The neck or collar ( 17 ) may be a simple neck or collar, or be formed as part of a hood which, in use, will fit around the head of the wetsuit wearer with an opening therethrough in the facial region of the wearer.

[0001] This invention relates to a wetsuit, more particularly, in one aspect of the invention, a wetsuit incorporating a zipper which is openable to allow body access into and out of the interior of the wetsuit. The second aspect of the invention is applicable to a wetsuit having an improved manner of sealing the wetsuit around the neck thereof to prevent, or at least minimize, the ingress of water to the interior of the wetsuit.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

[0002] For wetsuits with zippers which are openable to provide an opening large enough to allow body access into and out of the interior of the wetsuit, one problem encountered is how to prevent leakage (ingress) of water through the zipper to the wearer's body when the zipper is closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Therefore, it is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a wetsuit structure which prevents water leakage through the closed zipper from reaching the body of the wearer.

[0004] In accordance with the first aspect of the invention there is provided a wetsuit structure having a zipper extending from a neck opening of the wetsuit and down that portion of the wetsuit which, in use, will at least surround the upper part of the torso of a wearer of the wetsuit, wherein a barrier panel of stretchable, substantially water proof, material is attached within the interior of the wetsuit adjacent to, and underlying, at least a major portion of the length of the zipper.

[0005] It is also a problem with many current wetsuit structures, whether having zippers or even without zippers (so called zipperless wetsuits) as to how to prevent ingress of water through the neck opening.

[0006] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is a provided a wetsuit structure having a detachable neck or collar of stretchable, substantially water proof, material adapted, in use, to be pulled over the head of the wearer while stretching in the process, but then relaxing to fit relatively tightly into sealing engagement around the neck of the wearer, and means to detachably connect the neck or collar to the boy of the wetsuit.

[0007] In accordance with the second aspect of the invention the neck or collar may be a simple neck or collar, or may be formed as part of a hood which in use will fit around the head of the wetsuit wearer with an opening therethrough in the facial region of the wearer.

[0008] In one preferred embodiment of the invention the wetsuit structure incorporates the first and second aspects of the invention defined above, whilst preferably the detachable neck or collar of the second aspect of the invention is attached to the barrier panel of the first aspect of the invention and within the interior of the wetsuit to, together with the barrier panel, cover the entire length of the zipper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] One preferred embodiment, incorporating both the first and second aspect of the invention, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings;

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the rear of the wetsuit of this preferred embodiment,

[0011]FIGS. 2a and 2 b are rear and side views of a detachable hood for the wetsuit,

[0012]FIG. 3 is a rear view of a simple detachable collar for the wetsuit,

[0013]FIG. 4 is a view of the panel to be attached within the wetsuit adjacent and underlying the zipper of the wetsuit, and

[0014]FIGS. 5a and 5 b show how the hood or simple collar of the second aspect of the invention is associated with the barrier panel in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Turning to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the wetsuit structure of this preferred embodiment of the invention, and generally indicated as 10, has a torso portion 11, a pair of legs 12, a pair of arms 13, and neck opening 14. The wetsuit structure can be manufactured from any conventional material for wetsuits, or any other materials that become available.

[0016] The wetsuit has a zipper 15 extending from the neck opening 14 and down that portion of the wetsuit which, in use, will at least surround the upper part of the torso portion 11.

[0017] In accordance with the first aspect of the invention as suitably shaped barrier panel 16 of stretchable, substantially water proof, material is attached, such as by sewing or gluing along lines 16 a, within the interior of the wetsuit adjacent to, and underlying, a major portion 15 a of the length of the zipper. The stretchability of the barrier panel 16 allows body access to the interior of the wetsuit when the zipper is opened and the barrier panel stretched whereby the wearer can enter through the neck opening 14 and the opening provided by the opened zipper, and whereafter, when the zipper is subsequently closed, the barrier panel relaxes and acts as a barrier to any water leakage through the portion of the length of the zipper which it underlies.

[0018] In accordance with this preferred embodiment of the invention, and with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5a of the drawings, where both the first and second aspects of the invention are combined, the remaining portion 15 b of the length of the zipper is closed by a neck or collar 17 of stretchable, substantially water proof, material, and adapted, in use, to be pulled over the head of the wearer whilst stretching in the process, but then relaxing into relatively tight sealing engagement around the neck of the wearer. The neck or collar 17 has a downwardly extending flap portion 17 a which underlies the remaining portion 15 b of the length of the zipper, and is attached to the upper portion of the barrier panel 16. In this preferred embodiment the attachment is by means of a series of press studs or snaps, the male studs or snap portions 18 of which are spaced apart along either the inside or the outside of the flap portion 17 a of the neck or collar 17, and the associated female studs or snap portions 19 of which are spaced apart along, depending on the positioning of the male studs, the outside or the inside of the upper part of the barrier panel 16.

[0019] With reference to FIGS. 2a and 5 b of the drawings, a variation of the second aspect of the invention which, in this embodiment, is also incorporated with the first aspect of the invention, the neck or collar 17 forms part of a hood 20 which in use will fit around the head of the wetsuit wearer and has an opening 21 therethrough which will be in the facial region of the wearer. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A wetsuit structure having a zipper extending from a neck opening of the wetsuit and down that portion of the wetsuit which, in use, will at least surround the upper part of the torso of a wearer of the wetsuit, wherein a barrier panel of stretchable, substantially water proof, material is attached within the interior of the wetsuit adjacent to, and underlying, at least a major portion of the length of the zipper.
 2. A wetsuit structure having a detachable neck or collar of stretchable, substantially water proof, material adapted, in use, to be pulled over the head of the wearer whilst stretching in the process, but then relaxing to fit relatively tightly into sealing engagement around the neck of the wearer, and means to detachably connect the neck or collar to the body of the wetsuit.
 3. The wetsuit structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is also provided a detachable neck or collar of stretchable, substantially water proof, material adapted, in use, to be pulled over the head of the wearer whilst stretching in the process, but then relaxing to fit relatively tightly into sealing engagement around the neck of the wearer, and means to detachably connect the neck or collar to the body of the wetsuit.
 4. The wetsuit structure of claim 2, wherein the neck or collar is a simple neck or collar.
 5. The wetsuit structure of claim 3, wherein the neck or collar is a simple neck or collar.
 6. The wetsuit structure of claim 2, wherein the neck or collar is formed as part of the hood which, in use, will fit around the head of the wetsuit wearer with an opening therethrough in the facial region of the wearer.
 7. The wetsuit structure of claim 3, wherein the neck or collar is formed as part of the hood which, in use, will fit around the head of the wetsuit wearer with an opening therethrough in the facial region of the wearer.
 8. The wetsuit structure of claim 2, wherein the neck or collar has a downwardly extending flap portion which is detachably connected to the body of the wetsuit.
 9. The wetsuit structure of claim 4, wherein the neck or collar has a downwardly extending flap portion which is detachably connected to the body of the wetsuit.
 10. The wetsuit structure of claim 6, wherein the neck or collar has a downwardly extending flap portion which is detachably connected to the body of the wetsuit.
 11. The wetsuit structure of claim 3, wherein the neck or collar has a downwardly extending flap portion which is detachably connected to the body of the wetsuit.
 12. The wetsuit structure of claim 5, wherein the neck or collar has a downwardly extending flap portion which is detachably connected to the body of the wetsuit.
 13. The wetsuit structure of claim 7, wherein the neck or collar has a downwardly extending flap portion which is detachably connected to the body of the wetsuit.
 14. The wetsuit structure of claim 8, wherein the downwardly extending flap portion is detachably connected to an upper portion of the barrier panel.
 15. The wetsuit structure of claim 9, wherein the downwardly extending flap portion is detachably connected to an upper portion of the barrier panel.
 16. The wetsuit structure of claim 10, wherein the downwardly extending flap portion is detachably connected to an upper portion of the barrier panel.
 17. The wetsuit structure of claim 11, wherein the downwardly extending flap portion is detachably connected to an upper portion of the barrier panel.
 18. The wetsuit structure of claim 12, wherein the downwardly extending flap portion is detachably connected to an upper portion of the barrier panel.
 19. The wetsuit structure of claim 13, wherein the downwardly extending flap portion is detachably connected to an upper portion of the barrier panel.
 20. The wetsuit structure of claim 2, wherein the means to detachably connect the neck or collar to the body of the wetsuit are a series of press studs.
 21. The wetsuit structure of claim 3, wherein the means to detachably connect the neck or collar to the body of the wetsuit are a series of press studs.
 22. The wetsuit structure of claim 14, wherein the means to detachably connect the neck or collar to the body of the wetsuit are a series of press studs.
 23. The wetsuit structure of claim 15, wherein the means to detachably connect the neck or collar to the body of the wetsuit are a series of press studs.
 24. The wetsuit structure of claim 16, wherein the means to detachably connect the neck or collar to the body of the wetsuit are a series of press studs.
 25. The wetsuit structure of claim 17, wherein the means to detachably connect the neck or collar to the body of the wetsuit are a series of press studs.
 26. The wetsuit structure of claim 18, wherein the means to detachably connect the neck or collar to the body of the wetsuit are a series of press studs.
 27. The wetsuit structure of claim 19, wherein the means to detachably connect the neck or collar to the body of the wetsuit are a series of press studs. 